The most exciting construction projects for 2019

What infrastructure is coming?

2018 saw the completion of many exciting construction projects across the UK, such as the 165 metre One Blackfriars skyscraper, but what is coming up in 2019?

From hospitals to shopping centres, we have found some of the biggest construction projects in the UK. Whether they are only just starting or nearing completion, these are the construction projects to keep your eye on for the upcoming year.

UK construction projects happening in 2019

Health centres

The Royal Liverpool University Hospital began redevelopment under the construction company, Carillion, who went into liquidation in January 2018, putting the project on hold. The £429m project was supposed to be completed in March 2017, however problems with concrete, bad weather and asbestos led to lengthy delays. Construction began again in late 2018, with the majority of the work due to take place throughout 2019. The hospital is set to be completed in 2020.

The Midland Metropolitan Hospital near Birmingham was also a Carillion project that was delayed due to the company’s liquidation, but it has since been announced that a new contractor will take over in 2019 to re-start the build. It is scheduled to be completed in 2022.

Transport

High Speed 2 (HS2) is set to begin construction in June 2019, when the £56bn high speed railway service will connect London, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds. The project has been split into 2 phases, the first of which will connect London to the West Midlands, and is due to be completed in 2026, whilst phase 2 will connect the West Midlands to Leeds, via Sheffield, and Manchester. Completion for phase 2 is scheduled for 2033.

Crossrail, which was renamed to the Elizabeth line in 2016, is an underground railway line running through Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Essex. It is expected to provide a more frequent service than the current underground rail network, with higher capacity trains. Alongside new transport, Crossrail will also include 10 newly built stations and 30 current stations receiving an upgrade to accommodate the railway. The service is estimated to be used by 200 million people a year. The first part of Crossrail, which was meant to run from Paddington to Abbey Wood, was due to be opened in December 2018, however the project has been delayed by 9 months, and is now due to be opened in autumn 2019.

Sports stadia

Construction of the York Community Stadium which began in 2017, and is to be used by both York City FC and the Rugby League team, York City Knights, is scheduled for completion in 2019. As well as the 8,000 seater stadium, the site will also include a cinema, a community hub with a library and community offices, retail and restaurant units, fitness facilities and even an NHS outpatient service.

AFC Wimbledon will be leaving their Kingsmeadow stadium, located in Kingston upon Thames, to move back to an area closer to Wimbledon. Their new stadium, currently only known as the New Plough Lane, will be located in Merton Borough and is due to be completed in time for the 2019/20 season, after starting construction in 2017.

Although construction began in 2018, delays will see the yet to be named stadium opening in 2019. Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium will also be used to host NFL games and concerts.

Housing

In 2019, 101 George Street is set to open in Croydon. The buildings, in the form of two towers, will be the tallest modular structures in the world upon their completion, and will provide 546 residential apartments. Standing at 135 metres, the apartments will be able to share onsite facilities such as gyms, lounges and private dining areas. The ground floor will also feature an art gallery and a café which hopes to promote Croydon’s cultural quarter. Construction is due to finish in 2019.

An addition to the London skyline will come in the form of the Spire building in the West India Quay area near Canary Wharf. Construction began in July 2016, and is due to be completed in 2020, having reached the half way point in 2018. The £800m residential tower will peak at 235 metres and provide 861 apartments. Residents will also be able to enjoy access to the Saffron Club; a state of the art communal area, equipped with a cinema, spa, gym, library and sky lounge.

In December 2017, Birmingham was announced as the host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, following Durban’s withdrawal. Since then, planning, development and demolition started on the former Birmingham City University campus, which would give way for the new purpose built athletes village. Following the games, the village will be used as a residential area, where 1,400 new homes would be built. The site is also set to include a retail area, community centre and a care village for the elderly.

Retail centres

Brent Cross Shopping Centre in London was due to begin redevelopment in July 2018, but has been delayed to January 2019. The development will bring a further 200 stores into the shopping centre, creating thousands of jobs for the area.

City redevelopment

Leeds City Centre will double its’ size with the transformation of the South Bank area, which will deliver new homes and workplaces, as well as shops, cafes and restaurants. There will also be a new green zone added to the city, with gardens and plazas where Leeds residents can enjoy their spare time. The £350m project was approved in April 2018, and is designed to accommodate the HS2 project which will link Leeds to London via a 1hr 20 minute train trip, down from 2hrs 10.

Protecting your construction business

Large construction projects can be unique and come with their own set of risks and challenges. For a construction business, insurance must be a top priority to protect you if something were to go wrong. As careful as you may be accidents happen when you least expect, so having the right business insurance is essential to maintaining the business you’ve worked so hard to build.

Whether you are a large construction business or a contractor such as a carpenter, electrician or plumber we understand that one size does not fit all and your business activities are as unique as your insurance requirements. We can arrange a bespoke insurance solution to meet your unique business needs. To review your insurance requirements, call us today and speak to one of our insurance advisors.

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